Balanced pressure steam iron



June 30, 1959 F. E. FINLAYS'ON ETAL BALANCED PRESSURE STEAM IRON Filed May 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l [)7 l/entonsx Fran/r Z Fxh/qysan, A/f'red 6. Swanson,

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United States Patent BALANCED PRESSURE STEAM IRON Frank Finlay'son and Alfred G. Swenson, Ontario,

. Neil G. Herman, Pomona, and Robert L. Logg and Bryce A. Denton, Ontario, Califl, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May 24, 1955, Serial No. 510,716

9 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam irons, and more par ticularly, to such irons including means for balancing pressure between the steam chamber and the reservoir.

Most present day steam irons employ a structure in which water is supplied from a reservoir to a steam chamber where it is flashed into steam. The steam is then discharged from the chamber through ports in the soleplate. This has been found to provide a very effective iron and it enables the user to out 01f instantly the flow of steam .by means of a valve which closes a passage from the reservoir to the steam chamber. The iron thus serves conveniently as [both a steam and a dry iron.

When such irons are in use, there is some tendency for a back pressure to develop at the discharge ports, retarding the flow of steam to some extent. With coarse woven material, this provides no serious problem. However, when relatively tightly woven cloth is being ironed, this back pressure may materially reduce the flow of steam, reducing the effectiveness of the iron. In order to overcome this problem, we provide an improved arrangement for effectively balancing the pressure between the steam chamber and the space in the reservoir above the water level therein, which largely eliminates the effects of back pressure.

Further," some steam irons of the above type are prol ided with aconvenient fill passage or opening which may provide permanently open communcation with the reservoir- In. order to make a balanced pressure iron,

that is, an iron of the type disclosed in the present application, work'satisfactorily, it is necessary to have the reservoir completely closed when the iron is steaming.

In accordance with ourinvention, we have provided an arrangementfor' automatically "closing the fill passage when the iron is beingused as asteam iron. This is accomplished without requiring any'furtheraction on the part of the user than that already associated with the operation of a normal steamand dry iron. Also pro- 'vided is-an improved arrangement for minimizing the possibility of water splashing into the balancing tu'be during use or flowing into the steam chamber through this tube when the iron is being filled.

It is an object ofthis invention to provide an improved steam'iron having, an improved arrangement for securing balanced pressure between the steam chamber and the reservoir.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for automatically closing the fill passage to the reservoir whenthe steam control valve is opened and vice versa. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for minimizing accidental splashing of water from the reservoir into the pressure balancing passage. It is another object ofthis. invention to provide an improved arrangement for, preventing flow of water from the reservoir into thepressure balancing passage when 2,892,272 7 Patented June 30,1959

the iron is out of use on its heel rest and particularly when the reservoir is being filled in this position.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for positively blocking flow of water from the reservoir into the pressure balancing passage.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of'this invention, several arrangements are disclosed whereby the filling passage to the reservoir is automatically closed when the steam control valve is moved to its open position. Further, the iron is constructed so that splashing of water into the steam chamber through the balancing tube during the ironing operation is minimized. More specifically, these several forms of this invention include some arrangement for providing cooperation between the valve stem of the steam control valve and a closure member for the filling passage so that when the steam control valve is moved to its closed position, the closure member automatically opens the filling passage and, conversely, when the steam valve is moved to its open position for steam ironing, the closure member is automatically moved to its closed position to provide an effective balanced pressure steam iron.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation view partly in section of a steam iron incorporating an embodiment of this invention.

'Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bafile employed in the reservoir of the iron.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation view of a portion of the reservoir showing further details of the bafile and reservoir structure.

Figure 4 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the vforward portion of a steam iron incorporating a modified heating element 4 of the sheathed type is cast in a conventional manner into the soleplate. The energization of the heating element is controlled in a conventional manner by a thermostat, indicated generally at 5. No details of the heating and the thermostatic control circuit are shown since they do not form a part of the present invention, and any conventional arrangements in this respect may be employed. The cover may be mounted on the soleplate in any desired manner, for example, by means of studs, one of which is shown at 6, secured to the soleplate and extending upwardly to the cover. A nut 7 engages each of the studs to hold the cover in place.

A reservoir for holding a supply of water is shown at 8. This reservoir is mounted immediately below the cover and is mounted at the rear end on a bracket, which is shown at 9, which is in turn supported by screws 10 on the soleplate. The forward end of the reservoir is supported on and urged against a steam dome 11. A washer 12, preferably of a suitable silicone or other heat resistant and resilient material, is mounted between the reservoir and the steam dome to facilitate sealing engagethe steam dome and is held firmly against the brackets 9 by the nuts 7a on stud 6 and by means of a suitable spring 7b acting between cover 2 and reservoir The iron shown is of the type which supplies water drop by drop from the reservoir to a steam chamber formed in the soleplate whereth'e water is flashed mto steam and supplied through discharge ports to the material being ironed. The steam chamber is shown at 13. A cover 14 is provided for the steam chamber, this pover being held in position on the soleplate by a plurality of screws, one of which is shown at 15. The aforementioned steam dome 11 is mounted in an opening in the cover, and it may be secured to the cover in any suitable manner, as by pressing, casting, etc. Steam from the steam chamber 13 is supplied through labyrinthine passages adjacent the soleplate to a plurality of discharge ports, one of which is shown at 16, through which the steam is discharged at the bottom of the soleplate onto the material being ironed. The steam passages from the steam chamber to the discharge ports have not been illustrated since they form no part of the present invention and may be of any type conventionally employed; for this reason, they have not been illustrated.

In order to supply Water from the reservoir 8 to the steam chamber at a slow rate, a passage is provided at the bottom of the reservoir communicating with the steam chamber. This passage conveniently takes the form of a valve body 17 formed to provide a small orifice 18 therein through which the water flows in a drop-by-drop manner when the valve is open. A steam control valve is provided so that flow of water from the reservoir to the steam chamber may be cut off when desired. For example, most irons of this type are used both as steam and dry irons, and for dry ironing, it is necessary to cut off the flow of steam. This valve for controlling the flow of water from the reservoir to the steam chamber includes the valve body 17 and a valve stem 19. The valve stem 19 is normally biased by a spring 20 to the open position illustrated in Figure 1. In order to move the valve to its open or closed position, a manually actuated control knob or button 21 is provided at the top of the forward portion of the handle 3. This button 21 is connected by a yoke 22in engagement with the upper end of the valve stem 19. In the position shown, the valve is in its open position. When it is desired to close the valve to cut 0E the ffow of water to the steam chamber, the button 21 is depressed to the dotted line position shown in Figure l, which brings the lower end of the valve stem 19 into engagement with the valve seat, cutting off the flow of water.

The broad idea of a spring-biased valve for controlling the flow of water and changing from steam to dry iron operation in the manner described above is not part of the present invention. Certain details of the upper portion of the structure particularly relating to the matter ofcooperation between the button structure and the valve stem are described and claimed in the copending application of Neil Herman Serial No. 452,911, filed August 30, 19 54, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The handle 3, and specifically, the front support 23 thereof, is made hollow, thereby providing a passage for the valve stem as illustrated in Fig. 1. It also provides a passage for a connecting control rod 24 between the temperature control knob 25 and a cam 26 located in the body of the iron.

The reservoir is formed to include a riser 27 extending upwardly into the hollow front support 23. In order to provide a convenient means of filling the reservoir, an opening is provided in the front wall of the hollow front support communicating with the interior thereof. The riser is formed to include an opening 28 in the forward face thereof and in alignment with the opening in the front wall of the hollow front support of the handle. A fill member 29 is inserted inthe opening in the handle,

and the inner end 30 thereof projects through the open- .ing '28 and into the riser 27, thereby providing com- 4 munication with the reservoir. The iron is formed in the conventional manner to include a heel rest provided by the overhanging rear end 31 of the cover and the rear end 32 of the handle. When it is desired to fill the reservoir, the iron is placed on its heel rest so that the fill member 29 faces upwardly and water may then be easily poured into the funnel-shaped fill member 29.

Many present-day irons include arrangements whereby water is fed from a reservoir to a steam chamber where it is flashed into steam and then discharged through ports in the soleplate. Also, many such present-day irons include a manually actuated steam control valve so that the iron may be used both as a steam iron and as a dry iron. Such irons have been found very effective for both steam and dry ironing. This is particularly true where lighter materials are being ironed. However, it has been found that there is a tendency for back pressure to develop at the steam ports which retards to some extent the flow of water from the reservoir to the steam generator and thus the flow of steam from the steam chamber to the material being ironed. This becomes an increasing problem with the heavier materials which have a greater retarding effect on the flow of steam. In the iron of the present application, a convenient arrangement is provided whereby the pressure between the steam chamber and the reservoir in the area above the water level thereon is balanced. For so balancing this pres sure, a balancing tube or passage 33 is provided in communication with the steam chamber, and this tube extends upwardly to a point well above the water level in the reservoir. More specifically, the lower end of the tube 33 is secured in sealing engagement to an opening in the top of the steam dome 11. The upper end of the tube 33 extends into the riser 27 well above the water level in the reservoir 8. In this Way, the pressure in the area of the reservoir above the water level is balanced with that in the steam chamber and the adverse efiect of any back pressure developing at the discharge ports is overcome.

In order to minimize any tendency for water to splash into the steam chamber through the top of the balancing tube 33 as a result of movement of the iron during normal usage, a baflie 34 is provided in the reservoir immediately behind the riser 27. This baflie is shown in detail in Fig. 2. As there shown, it includes two transversely extending spaced walls 35 and 36, the wall 35 being immediately to the rear of the riser, and the wall 36 being just behind a duct 37 through which the control rod 24 extends. The baffie includes an opening 38 for the duct 37. In addition, the baffie includes two forwardly extending Wings 39 and 40 arranged to be disposed on opposite sides of the riser 27. The relationship of the reservoir 8 and the transverse wall 36 of the baflie is shown in more detail in Fig. 3. It can be seen that the portion 36 provides a substantial barrier against sloshing movement of the water in the reservoir as the iron is moved back and forth, but at the same time, communication is provided both above and below the portion 36 so that water will not be pocketed in separate compartments in the reservoir.

In order to prevent the water from accidentally flowing into the steam chamber through the balancing tube 33 during the filling operation, the parts are constructed so that, when the iron is on its heel rest for filling, the balancing tube is substantially above a horizontal line extending through a point adjacent the outer edge 30 of the fill funnel 29. This has been illustrated in Fig. l by means of the dashed line 41 which is drawn parallel to a line through the heel rest formed by the portion 31 of the cover and portion 32 of the handle at the rear ends thereof. It can be seen that the balancing tube 33 is above a normal maximum water level when the iron is tipped back onto its he'el rest with a possible exception of the uppermost end which may receive a very small quantity of water. Further, the balancing tube 33 is rearwardly inclined towardits upper end, as illustrated in Fig. 1. This provides a still further barrier toward accidental flow of water into the steam chamber through the balancing tube during the filling operation or when the iron is on the heel rest.

In order to make a balanced pressure system of the type disclosed in this application operate efiectively, it is necessary that the reservoir be completely closed during the steam ironing operation. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that an opening from the reservoir to the exterior of the iron is provided through the riser 27 and the fill funnel 29 in order to aiford a convenient passage for filling of the reservoir when necessary. In accordance with this invention, this filling passage is automatically closed when the iron is set for steam ironing without the necessity of any thought being given to this point by the user. It has been described above how the valve stem 19 is moved between its open and closed positions in order to set the iron for steam or dry ironing. In accordance with this invention, this actuation of the valve is made the automatic means for either opening or closing, as the situation requires, the filling passage.

In the specific form shown in Fig. 1, the'riser 27 is formed to have a portion 43 of reduced cross-section thereby providing a shoulder 44. Against this shoulder there is mounted a circular member 45 adapted to be pressed into the riser tube from the lower end thereof and into engagement with the shoulder. The member 45 is formed to include an annulus 46 engaging the riser tube and a central depending portion 47. The portion 47 has an opening 48 therein and this portion 47 is formed to provide a valve seat adjacent the opening 48. In order to close the opening 48 and thereby to close the filling passage when desired, a valve 49 is mounted onthe valve stem 19 of the steam-control valve. The valve 49-is in the form of a disc which is mounted on the valve stem 19 between two projections or rings 50 and 51 which are spaced at distance slightly greater than the thickness of the valve disc-to provlde some freedom of motion of the valve disc 49 relativeto the stem 19.

In the position in Fig. 1, the steam control valve, and specifically the stem 19 thereof, has been illustrated 1n its open position, that is, the position which 1t occupies during steam ironing. In this position, of course, the water may flow from the reservoir 8 through the orifice 18 into the steam chamber 13' in theusual manner. In this position of the steam control valve it can be seen that the valve disc '49 is urged against its seat 'by means of the biasing spring 20 and the ring 50 on the valve stem '19. Thus, when the steam control valve 1s in its open position, the filling passage is automatically closed by the valve 49. When it is desired to use the iron for dry ironing, or when his desired to fill the reservoir, the button 21 is depressed in the manner already employed in conventional irons for merely shiftlng from steam to dry ironing. This button 21 1s moved downwardly until the shoulder 52 thereon engages a shoulder 53 on the handle. This moves the steam control valve to its closed position and, at the same time, automatically causes the ring 51 to move the valve 49 to its open position thereby opennig the filling passage. In this POSI- tion of the valve 49, the reservoir may be filled through the fill funnel 29. 'Thus, it will be seen that the user has to do nothing more than she already does in simply shifting from steam to dry ironing, the structure of this invention automatically opening or closing the fill passage as the proper operation of this balanced pressure iron requires. The balancing tube 33 also assists in the filling operation-and allows the use of a smaller fill funnel than would otherwise have to be employed, since it serves also as a vent, eliminating the requirement that the water flow in and the air flow out through the same fill funnel.

assaava The provision of the depending portion 47 referred to above assists in minimizing the splashing of water into the open upper end of the balancing tube 33. Thus, the construction employed provides an annular space 54 above the level of the valve seat and the upper end of the balancing tube 33 is arranged to extend into this annular area. The upper end or mouth 42 of the balancing tube 33 is thus positioned above the level of the valve seat so as to further block the accidental passage of water into the steam chamber through the balancing tube 33 during the filling operation.

A modified form of this invention is shown in Fig. 4. The same numerals have been employed to indicate corresponding parts in Figs. 1 and 4, certain thermostat details having been omitted for clarity.. The structure shown in Fig. 4 includes a valve having a valve stem 19 for controlling the steam in the same general manner described in connection with Fig. 1. It also includes a balancing tube 33 extending upwardly from the steam dome 11 and providing communication between the steam chamber 13 and the area of the reservoir above the water level therein. In this form of our invention, the reservoir 55, corresponding to the reservoir 8 in Fig. 1, is brazed or otherwise secured, as indicated at 56 to the steam dome 11. The steam dome in turn may be held in sealed engagement with cover plate 14 by any suitable clamping means, for example, by compression spring 70. The reservoir 55 is formed to include a portion 57 extending upwardly into the hollow front support 23 of the handle. Removably secured to the portion 57 is a riser 58 which extends upwardly into the hollow front support 23. An opening 59 is provided in the forward face of the riser 58 in alignment with an opening 60 in the front wall of the handle support 23. A fill funnel 61, corresponding to the funnel 29 in Fig. 1, is arranged to extend through the openings 59 and 60 and into communication with the riser 58 and thence with the reservoir 55; This structure provides a filling passage for the reservoir. It provides for insertion of the valve assembly through the top of the tank, rather than hrough the bottom as in Fig. 1. Y

The riser 58 is formed to include an opening 62 at its lower end surrounded by a valve seat 63. A valve in the form of a disc 64 is mounted on the stem 19 and arranged to engage the valve seat 63 for closing the filling passage to the reservoir under the proper circumstances. This valve disc 64 is mounted on the stem between two spaced projections or rings 65 and 66 in the same general manner as the valve disc 49 in the form shown in Fig. 1. The rings 65 and 66 are also spaced a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the valve disc 64 so as to provide some longitudinal motion of the disc relative to the valve stem 19. The valve disc 64 is urged upwardly relative to the valve stem by means of compression spring 20, as in Fig.1.

The operation of the structure shown in Fig. 4, insofar as the automatic opening and closing of the filling passage is concerned, is the same as that previously described in connection with Fig. 1. Thus, as the steam control valve is moved downwardly to its closed position by actuation of the button 21, the valve disc 64 is moved to its open position because of the engagement of the ring 66 on the valve stem with the valve disc 64. Thus, when the steam control valve is closed for dry ironing or preparatory to filling the reservoir, the filling passage is automatically opened. Conversely, when the steam control valve is moved upwardly to the open position shown in Fig. 4, the valve disc 64 is simultaneously carried by the ring 65 on the valve stem 19 to the closed position in engagement with the valve seat 63. Thus, when the steam control valve is opened for steam ironing, the filling passage is automatically closed without any thought or further action on the part of the user. The spaced rings 65 and 66provide a slight lost motion relationship of the valve disc 64 relative to the stem 19 so that both movement of the steam control valve to its fully open position and firm engagement of the valve disc 64 with its seat 63 are assured. The steam control valve is biased toward its open position by spring 20.

v A further modification of this invention is shown in Fig. 5. Again, the same numerals have been employed to designate corresponding parts in this figure and in the preceding figures. The form shown in Fig. differs from those previously described primarily in that a different arrangement for closing the filling passage is employed. The structure in Fig. 5 includes a steam control valve having a valve stem 69 corresponding to the valve stem 19 in the forms previously described. The upper end of this valve stem extends through the top of a riser 70 which, in turn, is connected to a reservoir 71, corresponding, for example, to the reservoir 8 shown in Fig. 1. The steam control valve is biased to its open position by a spring 72 which engages the top of the riser 70. This spring may also be employed to urge a suitable resilient washer 73 into sealing engagement with the top of the riser to seal the area around the valve stem 69. A button or knob 74 is provided at the top forward portion of the handle for actuating the steam control valve. This button 74 is connected by a shaft 75 to a U-shaped resilient yoke 76. One leg of this yoke is connected to the shaft 75 and the other leg to the upper end of the valve stem 69.

The steam control valve may be moved to its open or closed positions in the same general manner as in the forms previously described. When the button 74 is depressed, the steam control valve is moved to its closed position-with the valve stem 69 in engagement with the seat of the valve body 17. The button may, as in the form shown in Fig. 1, be formed to engage a shoulder on the handle to hold the button in the depressed position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. When the button is released from its engagement with the shoulder, the spring 73 moves the steam control valve upwardly to open the orifice 18 for passage of water to the steam chamber, thus conditioning the iron for steam ironing operation.

The riser 70 is formed to include an opening in its forward face which is in registry with a corresponding opening 77 in the front wall of the hollow front support 23. A fill funnel 78 is received in the opening 77 and the inner end thereof extends into communication with the opening in the riser 70. A filling passage is thereby provided for filling the reservoir 71.

This formof our invention also includes a balancing tube 79 which provides communication between the steam chamber 13 and the reservoir 71 above the level of the water in the reservoir in order to balance the pressures in these two areas. The upper end of the balancing tube 79 extends some distance into the riser 70 so as to minimize the possibility of water splashing or sloshing into this balancing tube and then into the steam chamber 13 as a result of normal movement during the ironing operation. 7

As indicated above, for effective operation of a balanced pressure system, it is necessary that the reservoir be completely closed during the steam ironing operation. In accordance with this form of our invention, provision is also made for automatically effecting closing of the filling passage without any thought or extra action on the part of the user whenever the iron is conditioned for steam ironing operation. In order to accomplish this automatic action in the form shown in Fig. 5, a closure member 80 is mounted for pivoting movement on a wall of the reservoir 71. In the form shown, the lower end of the closure member 80 is brazed or welded at 81 to the inner surface of a wall reservoir 71 adjacent the lower end of the riser 70. The member 80 is made of a material having natural resilience, and it is so mounted that the natural resilience of the material biases this memher into the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 4, wherein the member 80 closes the filling passage at the inner end' of the fill funnel 78. In this form of our invention, a sealing disc 82 is preferably provided at the inner end of the fill funnel 78 so as to facilitate the sealing action of the closure member 80.

In order to effect automatic opening of the closure member when the button 74 is depressed to condition the iron either for dry ironing or for a filling operation, the closure member 80 is formed to provide a rearwardly extending tab 83. A projection or ring 84 is provided on the valve stem 69 of the steam control valve at a position just above the tab 83. Preferably, the tab 83 is formed to provide an opening through which the valve stem 69 extends. However, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the tab 83 may be in U-shape, or it may extend along only one side of the stem 69, so long as it is positioned for engagement with the member 84.

It can be seen by reference to Fig. 5 that when the steam control valve is in its open position, the ring 84 is positioned above and out of engagement with the tab 83 of the closure member 80. The closure member 80 is therefore biased by its natural resilience into sealing engagement with the inner end of the fill funnel 78, and more specifically with the sealing ring 82. The filling passage is. thereby closed so thatthe reservoir is completely closed and the balanced pressure system can operate effectively. Conversely, when the button 74 is depressed to close the steam control valve and block flow of the water to the steam chamber 13, thereby conditioning the iron for dry ironing operation or preparing it for filling of. the reservoir, the ring 84 is brought into engagement with the tab 83 sometime before the valve stem 69 reaches the lower end of its travel. The tab 83 and the closure member 80 are, therefore, moved by the steam control valve, and more specifically by the ring 84 thereon, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. The closure member 80 is, in this position, out of engagement with the inner end of the fill tube, thereby opening the filling passage. Again, as in the previously described forms of our invention, it will be seen that the closure member moved to its open or closed position automatically with no thought or action on the part of the user other than that involved in normal steam and dry iron operation.

Another modified form of this invention is shown in Fig. 6. The form shown in this figure is quite similar to that shown in Fig. 5, and the same numerals have been employed to designate corresponding parts. The form shown in Fig. 6 differs from that in Fig. 5 in two primary respects. First, provision is made for setting the steam control valve in three rather than in two positions. These three positions correspond to steam ironing, dry ironing, and filling, respectively; that is, a separate position is provided specifically for filling.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of the hollow front support 23 of the handle 3 is formed to include both a shoulder 85 and a second shoulder 86 so that the steam control button 74 may be positioned, as shown in Fig. 6, in an upper position or in either of two lower positions engaging, respectively, either the shoulder 85 or the shoulder 86. The several positions of the button are shown generally by the solid lines and two dashed lines 87 and 88. In the position shown by the solid lines the iron is set for steam ironing operation; in the position where the lower end of the button is indicated by the dashed line 87, the iron is conditioned for dry ironing. Finally, in the position of the button where the lower end is indicated by the dashed line 88, the iron is conditioned for filling of the reservoir. The three corresponding positions of the ring 84 are shown by the solid and the two dotted line positions 89 and 90 indicated in Fig. 6.

Thus, when it is desired to change from steam ironing to dry ironing, the button is depressed to a position in engagementwith theshoulder 85. where its lowerend'is indicated by the-line87 and where the ring 84 occupies the position shown bythe dotted line 89. It can be seen that in this position, the ring 84 is still-spacedfrom engagement with the tab ,83 and hence, the closure member 80 remains biased'b'y its natural resilience in sealing engagement with the inner end of the fill funnel 78, thereby keeping the filling passage closed. When it is desired to fill the reservoir, the button .74 is still further depressed to bring a shoulder thereof in engagement with the shoulder 86 on the handle, thereby moving the ring 84.0n the stem 91 of the steam control valve to the second lower dotted line. position indicated by the numeral 90.. In moving from the position indicated by 89 to the position indicated by 90, the ring 84 engages the tab 83 and then shifts the closuremember 80-against its natural biasto the dotted line shown in Fig. 6. This moves the closure member 80 out of sealing engagement with the'fillfunnel. and thereby aifords an opening for the filling of the reservoir 71. It may also be preferable to provide closure member 80 with a floating type sealing portion 80a as indicated by Fig. 6.

In order that the steam control-valve may be closed in the intermediate or dry ironing position, and still afford further movement ofthe valve stem 91 for actuating the closure member 80 to its open position for filling, the'valve'stem 91 includes at its lower end a telescoping member'92'having a stem 93 adapted to be received in a longitudinal passage in the lower end of the valve stem 91. The member 92 is biased to the positionfshown'in Figx6-by a spring 94." During the subsequent "movement of the valve stem 91 from the dry ironing to the filling position, the spring 94 is compressed.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of our invention, 'we do not desire our invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and we intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a steam iron including a body and a handle having a hollow front support, a steam chamber, a closed reservoir adapted to contain liquid and steam under pressure, a liquid passage from the lower portion of said reservoir to said steam chamber for supplying liquid to said steam chamber, a pressure balancing passage between said steam chamber and the upper portion of said reservoir above the liquid level therein, a fill riser including an internal valve seat communicating with the interior of said reservoir and extending upwardly into said hollow front handle support, a cooperating fill opening in said front handle support in communication with said riser for introduction of liquid into said reservoir, an axially movable valve stem slidably mounted for longitudinal motion centrally of said riser and toward and away from said liquid passage, push button means for actuating said valve stem in one direction and resilient means biasing said valve stem in the opposite direction, a liquid control valve in said liquid passage operated between open and closed positions by the longitudinally slidable movement of said valve stem, a valve disk cooperable with the internal valve seat of said fill riser, said valve disk being slidably mounted on said valve stem for axial movement with respect thereto, and projections on said valve stem spaced apart a distance exceeding the thickness of said valve disk, one of said projections being adapted to move said valve disk away from said internal valve seat when said liquid control valve is moved by said valve stem to its closed position, and the other projection engaging said valve disk to seal against said internal valve seat when said liquid control valve is moved to open position.

2. In a steam iron including a body and a handle having a hollow front support, a steam chamber, a closed reservoir adapted to contain liquid and steam under pressure, a liquid passage from the lower portion of said reservoir to said steam chamber for supplying liquid to said steam chamber, a pressure balancing passage between said steam chamber and the upper portion of said reservoir above the liquid level therein, a fill riser including an internal valve seat communicatingwith the interior of said reservoir and extending upwardly into said hollow front handle support, a cooperating fill opening in said fronthandle support in communication with said riser for introduction of liquid into said reservoir, an axially movable valve stem slidably mounted for longitudinal motion centrally of said riser and toward and away from said liquid passage, push button means for actuating said valve stem, a liquid control valve in said liquid passage operatedbetween open and closed positions by the longitudinally slidable movement of said valve stem, a valve disk cooperable with the internal valveseat of said fill riser, said valve disk being slidably connected with said valve stem with a lost motion connection whereby said valve disk is moved away from from said internal valve seat when said liquid control valve is operated to a closed position and Said valve disk is moved into sealing engagement with said valve seat when said liquid control valve is opened.

3. In a steam iron, a body and a handle therefor having a hollow front support, a steam chamber, a closed reservoir adapted to contain liquid and steam under pressure, a liquid passage from the lower portion of said reservoir to said steam chamber for supplying liquid thereto, a fill riser communicating with the interior of said reservoir and extending upwardly into said hollow front handle support, a cooperating fill opening in said front handle support communicating with said fill riser and defining therewith a fill passageway, an axially movable valve stem slidably mounted for longitudinal movement centrally through said riser toward and away from said liquid passage, push button means for actuating said valve stem, a liquid control valve in said liquid passage operated between open and closed positions by the longitudinally slidable movement of said valve stem, a fill valve in said fill passageway defined by a valve seat and cooperating movable closure member which is forced into engagement with said valve seat by pressure existing within said reservoir, a lost motion connection between said fill valve closure member and said valve stem, whereby said fill valve is opened when said valve stem is moved longitudinally to close said liquid control valve, and said fill valve closes when said valve stem is moved in the opposite direction to open said liquid control valve, and a pressure balancing passageway between said steam chamber and the upper portion of said reservoir above the liquid level therein.

4. In a steam iron, a body and a handle therefor having a hollow front support, a steam chamber, a closed reservoir adapted to contain liquid and steam under pressure, a liquid passage from the lower portion of said reservoir to said steam chamber for supplying liquid thereto, a fill riser communicating with the interior of said reservoir and extending upwardly into said hollow front handle support, a cooperating fill opening in said front handle support communicating with said fill riser and defining therewith a fill passageway, an axially movable valve stem slidably mounted for longitudinal movement centrally through said riser toward and away from said liquid passage, push button means for actuating said valve stem, a liquid control valve in said liquid passage operated between open and closed positions by the longitudinally slidable movement of said valve stem, a fill valve in said fill passageway defined by a valve seat and cooperating movable closure member which is forced into engagement with said valve seat by pressure existing within said reservoir, a lost motion connection between said fill valve closure member and said valve stem, whereby said fill valve is opened when said valve stem is moved longitudinally to close said liquid control valve, and said fill'valve closes when said valve stem is moved inthe opposite direction to open said liquid control valve, and a pressure balancing conduit extending from said steam chamber upwardly through said reservoir and into said riser to a level above the level of'said fill valve.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which said movable closure member of said fill valve is pivotally mounted.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said lost mo tion connection comprises a tab portion on said pivotally mounted closure member adjacent said valve stem and said valve stem includes a projection thereon for engaging said tab.

7. In a steam iron, a body and a handle therefor having a hollow front support, a steam chamber, a closed reservoir adapted to contain liquid and steam under pressure, a liquid passage from the lower portion of said reservoir to said steam chamber for supplying liquid thereto, a fill riser communicating with the interior of said reservoir and extending upwardly into said hollow front handle support, a fill opening in said front handle support, means communicating from said fill opening into said fill riser and defining therewith a fill passageway, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said reservoir to said steam chamber through said first-named passage, said valve including a stem axially movable longitudinally of said riser for actuating said valve between open and closed positions, manual means for moving said valve stem, at fill valve in said fill passageway comprising a closure member pivotally mounted on said reservoir and having a portion cooperably associated with a valve seat formed on said communicating means, said closure member being forced into engagement with the valve seat on said communicatin'gmeans by pressure existing within said reservoir, said closure member including atab extending adjacent said valve stem, means on said valve stem forming a lost motion connection with said tab to move said closure member to its open position when said first-named valve is moved to its closed position, and -a pressure balancing passageway between said steam chamber and the upper portion of said reservoir above the liquid level therein.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein a sealing ring is provided on the inner end of said communicating means to define a valve seat for said pivotally mounted closure member.

9. The combination of claim 3 wherein the lost motion connection between said fill valve closure member and said valve stem provides an intermediate valve stem position in which said'fill valve is'closed and said liquidvcontrol valve is closed.

References Cited in the file' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,341 Finlayson Sept. 8, 1942 2,322,593 Riddington et a1 June 22, 1 943 2,483,816 Edwards Oct. 4, 1949 2,499,185 Finlayson Feb. 28, 1950 2,557,732 Finlayson June 19, 1951 2,663,100 Bricker Dec. 22, 1953 2,773,321 Gomersall Dec. 11, 1956 

